Name: Zelma Garza Salinas
Age: 24
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Occupation: Software Engineer
Time Running: 12 years off and on, but consistently the last three years
Reason for Running: I started running to lose weight, but now I run to take a breath from the stress of life. I have fun singing and dancing when I run.
I started running during my freshman year of high school, during the summer of 2014. I was overweight, and I thought only thin girls deserved love. Who doesn’t want to be loved? So I joined my high school’s cross country team as an “extra.”
At first, running was humiliating, especially in front of others. I was dead last every time. But after a year of training, I shaved almost five minutes off my two-mile time. I was running fast. My teammates asked me, “how did you do it?” My classmates didn’t recognize me in the cafeteria. I poked my quads going up the stairs more times a day than I’d like to admit. I was on top of the world. I felt strong.
Then in 2018, I was diagnosed with insulin resistance, and my weight peaked at 191 pounds.
In August 2019, I decided to bike 4,000 miles from Texas to Alaska, with Texas 4000, a nonprofit aimed at fighting cancer. I struggled on the ride, fueling with mostly Doritos and had knee pain. After crossing the finish line and returning to school, I drank Red Bull and ate chips to stay awake studying. I hated my reflection in the mirror. I hid from anyone with a camera even when I was on vacation. I wore hoodies during Texas summer. Walking uphill left me gasping for air. I wasn’t happy.
But then something in me changed. I finally made the decision to turn my life around late at night in December 2021. I had just turned 21 and was on the phone with a friend, complaining about my knee pain. I was sick of feeling unhappy with my body. “I’m going for a run tomorrow,” I told him. He laughed at me. The next morning, true to my word, I ran.
Just two years after that first run, I’m now running marathons. My knees have also stopped hurting and my blood sugar levels are normal as well.
When I first started running again in 2021, I was running consistently, five to six times a week around three to six miles on an average day. I downloaded a free audiobook called Half Marathon Training by MoveWith. The coach guides you throughout your runs, giving you tips on form and pace.
After I was feeling bolder, I googled “marathon training plan” and picked the first result. I used my Garmin to upload all of my runs to Strava. Exchanging kudos with friends after a run became motivating and fun.
I ran the Austin Marathon in February 2022, and was on such a high crossing the finish line that I then signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon for October of that year. Then, this past September 2023, I finished the Colmar Marathon in France.
Right now, I’m running slowly every other day to recover from a back injury, but I’m training for the Los Angeles Marathon.
My marathon journey also led me to adjust my diet. The main differences in my diet regimen are threefold. First, I avoid staying up late at night because it leads to snacking. Second, I don’t eat in front of a screen. Third, I have replaced eating with other habits as coping mechanisms. For example, I use the acronym HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, tired) to identify triggers for eating.
I used to eat chips late at night. I also ate pizza sometimes. Though I still eat those on occasion, most days I eat a fruit salad with cottage cheese in the morning and an omelet for lunch.
I have lost weight, but I haven’t weighed myself in over three years. Stepping on the scale takes the joy out of running. I choose to focus on what my body can do now rather than idealize becoming smaller. This body has completed three marathons!
Running helps me believe in myself. It’s a daily reminder of my strength, resilience, and worth regardless of what I look like.
These tips have made my running journey a success:
1. Listen to your body
I don’t run when I feel sharp pain because that’s how you get injured. For me, running is an act of self-love. I let myself recover because I want to be running races when I’m 80.
2. Priortize rest and cross train
I downloaded the Calm app, and I use their one-minute breathing exercise feature. I also started going to bed much earlier to avoid eating because I’m tired. During the day, I use the Pomodoro timer and take five-minute walk breaks every 25 minutes of focus time to avoid stress eating. I’ve also leaned into taking dance classes because they improve my mood.
3. Hype yourself up
Running is all mental, so I dance in front of the mirror before a big run. I hype myself up with mantras. I mentally break up a run into small parts, ranging from a mile to half a block. Your goal when you run should be to have your own back.
4. Start slowly and sign up for a race
Focus on distance, not speed or time. Your first priority is consistency. I’d also advise you to sign up for a race that makes you excited. Tell your friends to come cheer you on!
Zelma’s Must-Have Gear
→ Garmin Forerunner 235: This watch has tracked my runs and my bike rides with ease for five years. I love the heart rate zone feature and how it predicts how long it’ll take me to recover after a run. The battery lasts for a week and a half!
→ Beats Pro Earphones: These headphones don’t fall off when I run. They are comfortable and adjust to my ear.
→ VivoBarefoot Shoes: I love these shoes for running on trails. They allow me to feel the ground and help me land softer.
